HEADQUARTERS ALEXANDRIA
AND LEESBURG ROAD,
Near Dranesville,
September 3, 1862.
His Excellency President DAVIS,
Richmond, Va.:
Mr. PRESIDENT: The present seems to be the most propitious
time since the commencement of the war for the Confederate Army to enter
Maryland. The two grand armies of the United States that have been operating in
Virginia, though now united, are much weakened and demoralized. Their new
levies, of which I understand 60,000 men have already been posted in
Washington, are not yet organized, and will take some time to prepare for the
field. If it is ever desired to give material aid to Maryland and afford her an
opportunity of throwing off the oppression to which she is now subject, this
would seem the most favorable.
After the enemy had disappeared from the vicinity of Fairfax
Court House, and taken the road to Alexandria and Washington, I did not think
it would be advantageous to follow him farther. I had no intention of attacking
him in his fortifications, and am not prepared to invest them. If I possessed
the necessary munitions, I should be unable to supply provisions for the
troops. I therefore determined, while threatening the approaches to Washington,
to draw the troops into Loudoun, where forage and some provisions can be
obtained, menace their possession of the Shenandoah Valley, and, if found
practicable, to cross into Maryland. The purpose, if discovered, will have the
effect of carrying the enemy north of the Potomac, and, if prevented, will not
result in much evil.
The army is not properly equipped for an invasion of an
enemy's territory. It lacks much of the material of war, is feeble in
transportation, the animals being much reduced, and the men are poorly provided
with clothes, and in thousands of instances are destitute of shoes. Still, we
cannot afford to be idle, and though weaker than our opponents in men and
military equipments, must endeavor to harass if we cannot destroy them. I am
aware that the movement is attended with much risk, yet I do not consider
success impossible, and shall endeavor to guard it from loss. As long as the
army of the enemy are employed on this frontier I have no fears for the safety
of Richmond, yet I earnestly recommend that advantage be taken of this period
of comparative safety to place its defense, both by land and water, in the most
perfect condition. A respectable force can be collected to defend its
approaches by land, and the steamer Richmond, I hope, is now ready to clear the
river of hostile vessels.
Should General Bragg find it impracticable to operate to
advantage on his present frontier, his army, after leaving sufficient
garrisons, could be advantageously employed in opposing the overwhelming
numbers which it seems to be the intention of the enemy now to concentrate in
Virginia.
I have already been told by prisoners that some of Buell's
cavalry have been joined to General Pope's army, and have reason to believe
that the whole of McClellan's, the larger portion of Burnside's and Cox's, and
a portion of Hunter's, are united to it.
What occasions me most concern is the fear of getting out of
ammunition. I beg you will instruct the Ordnance Department to spare no pains
in manufacturing a sufficient amount of the best kind, and to be particular, in
preparing that for the artillery, to provide three times as much of the
long-range ammunition as of that for smooth-bore or short-range guns. The
points to which I desire the ammunition to be forwarded will be made known to
the Department in time. If the Quartermaster's Department can furnish any
shoes, it would be the greatest relief. We have entered upon September, and the
nights are becoming cool.
I have the honor to be, with high respect, your obedient
servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 590-1
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